We were told nothing was going to change but the location. The High Ability students' rigorous curriculum would continue, they would have their own floor and would not mix with the older high school students except in the hallways going to and from class. Again, the only thing that would change would be the location. Everything would remain the same. I was assured when I asked, that the transition would be a smooth one. That all the proper information and documents (i.e. school uniforms, course schedules, bus schedules, lockers, book fees--you get the idea) would be mailed to parents in a timely manner. I left the meeting feeling somewhat confident. I kind of liked the idea of my gifted child surrounded by the arts and should he choose he could participate in what Wirt/Emerson had to offer in that area but still have his main focus be on academics.
Well they lied. When I looked up and it was July 28th and I STILL had not received any information. I did not even know when school started. So, I looked on the The Gary School Corporation's website. Which by the way sucks. I have never seen a more useless website. The links don't work, there's no current information. Some things on there haven't been updated since 2009. But I digress. I found out school was to start on August 17th. That was 13 DAYS away (if you count the weekend)! WHAT??? So, again I went to that useless website to try and find a phone number that I could call and ask someone about this. Nothing! But, I did find the e-mail address to the superintendent Dr. Myrtle Campbell. So, I wrote her an e-mail. Well lo and behold! Miraculously I got a phone call from the High Ability office the next day and a letter on Saturday informing me of an orientation meeting on Friday, August 5th at 9:00 am. What a ridiculous time to schedule a meeting as if people don't work during the day. Ok, so I take off from work to go the orientation. Blah, blah uniforms, blah blah we're in Newsweek, blah blah we have a sign to say we're in Newsweek. No cellphones! A lot of speeches about how great the Wirt/Emerson Visual and Performing Arts High Ability school is and going to be and oh yeah there was a lot someof poetry. I think every poem was quoted but Phenomenal Woman. Ok then goodbye see you on on Wednesday, August 10th at 9:00 a.m. Wait! WHAT? That's it? You mean I have to come back? To do what? Oh, that's when you register. Oh yeah right! Because heaven forbid we do everything in one day.
Soooooo, I take yet another day off from work to register my child for school. I get there promptly at 9:00 a.m. I stand in line. I hand the "nice" lady my paperwork, she makes a copy of my driver's license, she hands me a yellow piece of paper and tells me to go to the next station. I go to Station II where another "nice" lady asks me for my son's name. I tell her she writes $2.00 on a piece of paper and sends me to the next station. I go to Station III where there were some actually nice ladies who take my $2.00 and point me to the next station. I go to Station IV, stand in line. When it's my turn, the "nice" lady puts her hand out. I look at her curiously and then she points to the yellow piece of paper I have since forgotten that I have. I give it to her. She then says "NAME!" I give her my son's name. She says "NO! Yours!" Well of course, how stupid of me not to have gathered that from just "Name". I give her my name. She says ok call back later today or tomorrow the schedules aren't ready. WHAT?! So, I just took off of work to give you $2.00? How asinine! Why aren't the schedules ready? She just looks at me.
So, is it just me? How is it possible that there could be this level of disorganization? When I asked a couple of people about this I was told that the schedules are never ready. Really? Well I find that unacceptable and you should too. Our children deserve better.
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